Chapter Text
“Oh, Eraser you’ll like this one.”
Aizawa leans over to see what Vlad is pointing at just in time to see a kid with black hair throw a small piece of concrete at one of the 5-point robots, the rock lodging itself in the mechanism controlling the robots legs completely paralyzing it. To which the kid walks up and stabs the robot in the head with a piece of rebar, killing it.
At first he thought it might have been a lucky throw, then he watches them do it again.
“What’s their quirk?” Power Loader is the one to ask the question after watching the kid take out a third robot as though they were made of cheap aluminum rather than the incredibly expensive kind of steel they were actually constructed from.
“Says here, ‘all seeing eyes’, an observation quirk of some kind. She must be able to see all the weak points of your bots.” Vlad pats Power Loader on the arm consolingly. The other man looks rather put out at watching as a fourth robot get taken out with nothing but two pieces of rubble.
Aizawa takes note of the name Seiko Yuki, before going back to studying the other screens. If the kid is able to use her quirk and her own training, throws that precise only come from training, to take down UA’s robots in seconds than she might actually be worth teaching. The lack of that sort of ingenuity and initiative is exactly why he expelled all of his students last year. Maybe this year there will actually be some decent kids.
Then he watches another kid break an entire arm destroying the zero pointer and decides that no, clearly this year is going to be filled with idiots.
As I change out of my now dirty exercise clothes, having just completed the UA entrance exam I wonder what specifically I should be feeling. Excitement? Anxiety about the outcome? Relief that it’s over? Well, there is a little bit of that last one, mostly I just feel vaguely annoyed.
I mean really, robots? You’d think given the school is run by someone with an intelligence quirk the entrance exam would be a little less biased towards people with purely physical quirks. You can’t even bring in outside equipment, statistically a large amount of heroes use weapons or support items. It’s ridiculous. I mean how would Snipe have ever passed the entrance test without guns?
Whatever, I’m getting way too annoyed over something beyond my control again. I knew it was coming anyway; I could remember the beginning parts of My Hero Academia pretty well. If I’d known it might mean life or death maybe I would have watched further than the Overhaul ark, but oh well.
I check the time on my watch to find that I should still be able to make it back to my neighborhood in time to drop off my bag at home before having to head to work.
You’d think finally entering the plot would make things feel different, but it doesn’t really. Things just continue on.
It’s about a week later when the letter from UA finally arrives, my mother hands it to me with shaking hands and I go to my room to open it. Choko patters behind me, insisting she wants to see it despite mother calling her back to the kitchen.
When I open it, a small round disk tumbles out. The disk then projects an image of All Might, causing Choko to squeel. Loudly and directly in my ear.
All Might congratulates me on getting in, and coming in 3rd place in the entrance exams. Which is higher than I thought I'd be. I also take note that in the practical portion Kirishima actually came second. With myself in 3rd and Uraraka in 4th.
As All Might disappears I once again wonder what a normal kid would feel. Joy probably. I’m not really happy, I knew I would get in, I was counting my points and keeping track of the total score of Bakugo, Kaminari, and Jirou in the other areas to make sure my point total would land me somewhere in between them. I just earned more rescue points than I thought I would given I'd only pulled a couple of kids out of the way of attacks or falling debris.
Some part of me wishes I hadn’t though. That I had failed and had been unable to enter and therefore could have given up on the plot entirely. I mean it’s not like they really need me to interfere. I was going to UA mostly to keep the Commission off my back, A couple of their people had been to my Middle School to talk to my teachers and the last thing I wanted was to get dragged into the commission after successfully avoiding them for so long.
I could have gone somewhere else but Nedzu was my best bet for staying out of their claws, the other hero schools had direct ties to the commission and therefore couldn’t be trusted. And going to a normal school would make it too easy for them to potentially kidnap me or something.
So, into Class 1-A I go. It couldn’t hurt to give them a little help. Maybe some advice, and hey hopefully I’ll take Mineta’s place and spare all the girls the misfortune.
Living in a world of quirks had already been strange, a man with a tv for a head looked fine on screen but in person? Totally different experience. However seeing Class 1-A in the flesh was a new kind of strange. Probably because even after coming here I continued to picture them as the anime characters, rather than people.
Iida is much taller than I expected for one, though just as loud. He also insists upon greeting every person who walks through the door.
I catch a glimpse of Todoroki in the back and boy does that scar look way worse in person. On screen it was just a blotch, but in real life it is mottled and far more horrifying.
Interestingly Uraraka looks most accurate to her anime depiction. I suppose the bob translates easily into actual hair and she does just have pink circles on her cheeks, like face paint.
I take a spot at the back, behind Koda and to the right of Todoroki, and focus my attention on the door, waiting for Aizawa to appear. I get a couple weird looks because of the blindfold but it’s hardly the strangest thing considering Shoji is in this class.
When the teacher finally appears I straighten from my slumped over position, having my chin resting on my arms, however true to form nobody else notices though I think that’s mostly because Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka are currently standing in front of the door.
Aizawa finally makes his grand entrance, still laying on the ground, yellow sleeping bag wrapped around him. “If your just here to make friends then you can pack up your stuff now." As the kids in front of the doors turn to stare at him, he drawls "welcome to U.A's hero course." In a completely dead voice.
His hair is jet black and rather oily, like he hasn't showered in a while. His eyebags are even worse than I thought they'd be, the edges of his eyes are rather red as well, and there's a large bruise on his left shoulder. Not that anybody else can see that last bit.
After he finally unzips himself and stands up, he enters the classroom saying, "It took eight seconds before you all shut up. That’s not gonna work. Time is precious. Rational students would understand that.” Is it a little ridiculous that I love the guy already. I mean maybe I’m biased because he was my favorite character from the anime but honestly I can really appreciate his attitude considering he’s trying to train a bunch of naïve kids to survive what is essentially warfare.
As everyone stares in bafflement at the admittedly strange man, he finally introduces, "hello, I'm Shota Aizawa. Your teacher." This only elicits even more surprise from the class.
"Right, let's get to it." He continues, voice still rather dead, "Put these on and head outside." He tells us, holding up a gym uniform he pulled from the depths of his cocoon. Before pulling out two bags with more uniforms and placing them on the front desk. Then just turning and walking out.
On to the quirk apprehension test, I think with a stretch as I go to grab one of the uniforms. Honestly I don’t know how I’m gonna do on this one. There are a lot less exploits during a purely physical test than while fighting robots, but I suppose Hagakure doesn’t have much advantage either so at least I’m not alone.
I slip the utility knife I keep on me into my pocket as I follow the rest of the class outside. At lease UA has some nice gym uniforms, they fit right and the fabric doesn’t itch.
When we all make it outside Aizawa informs us of what we're going to be doing. Several students asking confused questions, about the point of this, and about missing orientation,.
I grow to appreciate Aizawa more by the second as he turns to us and informs, "if you really wanna make the big leagues, you can't waste time on pointless ceremonies. Here at U.A., we're not tethered to traditions. That means that I get to run my class however I see fit. You've been taking standardized tests most of your lives. But you never got to use your quirks in physical exams before. The country's still trying to pretend we're all created equal by not letting those with the most power excel. It's not rational. One day, the Ministry of Education will learn."
Which is an interesting point. On the one hand he's right. Forcing people to not use abilities they were born with just so that everyone remains on 'equal ground' is not really viable in todays world. However, splitting kids up based on their quirks would only further the divide between those with 'better' and those with 'worse' quirks. It would only make the discrimination worse if the already present favoritism was codified into policy.
Ah well, now's not really the time for such thoughts. Aizawa is still talking, "Bakugo, you managed to get the most points on the entrance exam. What was your farthest distance throw with a softball when you were in junior high?" He asks the blonde boy.
"67 meters, I think." Bakugo answers gruffly.
"Right. Try doing it with your quirk." Aizawa tells him, handing him a softball with a little antennae sticking out. "Anything goes, just stay in the circle." When Bakugo doesn't begin to move Aizawa continues "Go on. You're wasting our time."
Finally, Bakugo turns and winds up for the throw. Just as he releases the ball, an explosion goes off in his hand, sending the ball sailing off into the sky with a loud boom.
I watch the numbers on the little device in Aizawa's hand tick up and up.
"All of you need to know your maximum capabilities." Aizawa tells us, as we all watch the ball fly farther and farther. "It's the most rational way of figuring out your potential as a pro hero." He holds up the device to reveal the numbers have stopped at 705.2 meters.
This results in exclamations from the class, both at Bakugo's score, and from excitement at the idea of getting to go all out.
Aizawa frowns at the class, "so this looks like fun, huh?" He asks, voice deadly serious. "You have three years here to become a hero. You think it's all gonna be games and play time? Idiots. Today you'll compete in eight physical tests to gauge your potential. Whoever comes in last has none, and will be expelled immediately. Like I said, I get to decide how this class runs. Understand?" Aizawa stares us all down, "if that's a problem, you can head home right now."
"You can't send one of us home!" Uraraka actually shouts out, "I mean, we just got here! Even if it wasn't the first day, that isn't fair!" If nothing else she's brave. Aizawa looks rather intimidating like this.
"Oh and you think natural disasters are?" Aizawa shoots back, "or power-hungry villains? Hm? Or catastrophic accidents that wipe out whole cities? No, the world is full of unfairness. It's a hero's job to try to combat that unfairness. If you wanna be a pro, you're gonna have to push yourself to the brink. For the next three years, U.A. will throw one terrible hardship after another at you. So, go beyond. Plus Ultra-style. Show me it's no mistake that you're here."
I give a rueful smile. He really is doing his absolute best to get everyone to take what they're doing here seriously. We've only got 3 years, and then we're going to become responsible for human lives. If the kids don't learn to take that seriously it will end in disaster for either them or the people their trying to save. Though I don't think any of that has really sunk in for the class yet. I suppose they are only kids still, and most of them have had pretty peaceful lives. It will take a little more than this to really get everything to sink in. But it's certainly a strong start from Aizawa.
"Now then, we're just wasting time by talking. Let the games begin." And so the tests really begin.
Also, apparently All Might has in fact decided to watch the entire test, if I didn’t know why he was here I’d think he was some kind of creep. Peering from around the corner like that.
The first test, the running test, goes pretty well, my own physical training pays off as I stay at least several places ahead of last place.
Thankfully UA insists on using robots for everything, so when handed the grip strength thing for the second test, I just open the back and press down on the mechanism, bypassing the springs entirely. I know Aizawa sees how I do it, but most of my classmates were to busy to take notice.
I don't find any work arounds for the next two, being the standing long jump and repeated side steps, but I don't fall too far behind either. I'm neck and neck with Kirishima, who doesn't have much by way of a quirk advantage but has clearly put a lot of time and effort into his physical training.
It isn’t until the softball test that my classmates catch on to my less than conventional aproach. I cut open the ball with the knife and peer in at the guts inside. The only important things are the tracker bits and antenna that measure how far I throw it.
“Hey!! You cannot do that! That is cheating and you are destroying school property!” It’s Iida, predictably, who shouts out.
I shrug, “the rules were stay in the circle, anything goes. Sensei didn’t say anything about not using a support item.” I look over at Aizawa who breaks out into a manic grin.
“Yuki is correct. Heroes use support items to cover where they are weak. Being able to recognize where you are weak and how to improve can mean the difference between life and death.”
I give a grin back that is probably equally mean before going back to fiddling with the ball. Unfortunately the bits inside the ball itself are just there to send information back to the device in Aizawa’s hand, and there isn’t any real way for me to tweak it without proper tools, more time, and way more engineering knowledge than I have. So instead I simply take out the important bits, which now weigh significantly less than a whole softball and chuck it as far as I can. Which is pretty far if I do say so myself.
My favorite weapon has long since been a throwing knife, easy to conceal, can be used for long distance or close quarters, and has the precision necessary to fully utilize my own quirks ability to spot precise weak points. So, I’m pretty good at throwing things.
My score isn’t anywhere near Uraraka or Bakugo, but it’s better than a lot of the others.
I get several looks from my classmates as I make my way back over. Iida looks like he is pondering the meaning of life, Todoroki looks vaguely threatening though that might just be his face, the others don’t really comment except for the not-yet-Baku-Squad who bemoan that they hadn't thought of something like that.
Than of course comes Izuku’s big character moment, which from the outside does not look anywhere near as impressive. Though I suppose it does take a particular kind of determination to break one’s fingers and then continue to perform the tests. I had my fingers broken once by an asshole who slammed a car door on them. It hurts like a bitch.
I'm honestly kind of surprised by how poorly Midoriya's performing. I mean, he's also done a whole fuck ton of physical training, so he really should be keeping pace with me and Kirishima. The two of us being the most physically fit of those without overly useful quirks. Yet he's behind even Hakagure and Kaminari, neither of whom have had any particularly outstanding scores. Though, he does seem to be incredibly nervous, physically shaking a little as he stands in the circle. I wonder if that's the problem?
Midoriya winds back, red lines appearing all the way down his arms. Apparently those were not stylistic choices but are real. However, before he can break his entire arm, Aizawa activates his own quirk. The throw only going a little ways without the power of One For All behind it.
Aizawa does look incredibly intimidating with the floating scarf and hair and the glowing red eyes. No wonder he makes such an incredible underground hero, seeing that coming out of a dark alley way in the middle of the night would scare the shit out of anybody.
When Midoriya looks down, confused, Aizawa explains, "I erased your Quirk. The judges for this exam were not rational enough. Someone like you should never be allowed to enroll at this school."
I’m a little surprised when Midoriya blurts out Aizawa’s hero name and quirk. He’s an underground hero for a reason. Midoriya must be on some pretty interesting corners of the internet to actually have heard about him though. I went looking out of curiosity once, the only places you can really find his name are on police records, one singular smalltime newspaper, and some questionable forums. You can also hear it muttered in some of the seedier bars in the neighborhood, but I seriously doubt that’s where Midoriya heard it.
"You're not ready." Aizawa declares, staring down at Midoriya, "you don't have control over your power. Were you planning to break your bones again? Counting on someone else to save your useless body."
"No! that's not what I was trying to do!" The green haired boy protests.
Aizawa uses his scarf to drag the boy in closer, "no matter what your intentions are, you would be nothing more than a liability in battle. You have the same reckless passion as another overzealous hero I know. One who saved over 1,000 people by himself and became a legend. But even with that drive, you're worthless if you can only throw a single punch before breaking down. Sorry, Midoriya. With your power, there's no way you can become a hero."
Aizawa releases the boy, before telling him to throw the ball and turning away, dismissive.
I can tell where he's coming from. Though I imagine he'd be at least a little more understanding if Midoriya actually told anybody he'd only just gotten the power. He could just lie and say he's a super late bloomer or something. Then maybe he'd get help from someone better at teaching than All Might.
Then Midoriya just sort of stands there for a bit, staring at the ball in his hands, before concluding the inner monologue and winding up. Channeling the power to one single finger and sending the ball flying into the heavens.
"Mr. Aizawa." Midoriya turns towards the man, "you see? I'm still standing." The grin that overtakes Aizawa's face is rather manic.
Of course, immediately afterwards Bakugo explodes towards Midoriya. Quite literally. “Deku you bastard!! Tell me how you did that or you’re dead!!” Aizawa’s scarf is on him in an instant, restraining him.
Honestly, thinking about it objectively. While overly violent Bakugo’s immediate reaction to demand to know how Midoriya suddenly has a quirk while knowing he had been quirkless his whole life is kinda understandable. Only kind of though, the guy could at least demand answers a little quieter.
The rest of the tests go by with much less fanfare, and All Might finally stops lurking. I actually end up higher in the rankings than I thought I would be, in 13th place. I'm getting the distinct impression that the majority of my classmates did not actually do much physical training beyond gym class. So while the rest beat me via their quirks they didn't do very well on the tests where their quirks weren't helpful.
Midoriya ends up at the bottom of the pack still. Which I still think is a little odd, though perhaps the pain hindered him in the second half more than I thought. Combined with the nerves fucking with him in the first half. I suppose I can see that.
Then of course comes Aizawa’s good old logical ruse. Seeing Midoriya practically collapse with relief after the reveal is kinda funny. In a morbid sense.
Although I'm almost certain Aizawa was 100% serious about the expulsion. Right up until he decided he wanted to keep Midoriya after all.
Being released to go home was nice, since today was a half day for the orientation which we didn’t attend I don’t actually have anything to do for the rest of the day which is rare. I stop in the subway bathroom to change out of the uniform, even my own reputation as ‘not to be fucked with’ wouldn’t stop me from getting jumped if I walked around wearing that in the dead zone.
That’s what my neighborhood had been nicknamed, it had another name at some point but nobody calls it anything else anymore. It gained the name because it is completely empty of pro hero’s. There are police, technically, but they aren’t any better than the gangs. Worse even, since they have legal immunity for all their asshole behavior.
I decide to stop off at one of the malls here in the nicer part of town. I almost never have a reason to come out here, it could be nice. I probably won’t buy anything, but window shopping and mall food is a perfectly acceptable way to spend a free afternoon.
As I'm wandering through a book store I stop by a particular shelf. An idea striking me. I pull out a couple books and shove them in my school bag after paying. I did say I would try to give my classmates some advice, didn't I?